Jon Huntsman, Jr.
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| Jon Huntsman, Jr. | |
| Image:Gov Jon Huntsman.jpg | |
| | |
| January 2005 – present | |
| Lieutenant Governor: | Gary R. Herbert |
|---|---|
| Predecessor: | Olene S. Walker |
| Successor: | incumbent |
| Born: | March 26, 1960 Palo Alto, California |
| Political party: | Republican |
| Profession: | Financial executive |
| Spouse: | Mary Kaye Huntsman |
| Religion: | Mormon |
Jonathan Meade "Jon" Huntsman, Jr. (born March 26, 1960 in Palo Alto, California) is the governor of the state of Utah, having won the office in the 2004 election, with Gary R. Herbert as his lieutenant governor. He was elected with 57% of the vote over Democrat Scott Matheson Jr.. His term as the 16th governor of Utah began on January 3, 2005.
He is a Republican, with fiscal conservative views and supports free trade. He is an outspoken advocate of Utah's strong role and potential on the global trade market. Huntsman made news in August 2005 when he said that he was opposed to intelligent design being taught in the classroom. He is also proponent of a flat-tax, tax cuts, and the removal of sales tax on food.
He is the son of businessman and philanthropist Jon Huntsman of Huntsman Corporation. His maternal grandfather David B. Haight was an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of which he is also a member. He attended the University of Utah where he became a Sigma Chi and then went on to graduate at the University of Pennsylvania.
Governor Huntsman is a seventh generation Utahn; his wife Mary Kaye is a first generation Utahn and loves wearing the color pink. Together they have six children, one of whom is adopted from China. The Huntsmans are awaiting the adoption of their seventh child, a baby girl from India.
Prior to his election, Governor Huntsman served as a White House Staff Assistant in the Reagan Administration. Governor Huntsman again served his country as a U.S. Ambassador to Singapore in the administration of President George H.W. Bush and as a trade minister to East Asia in the George W. Bush Administration. Prior to his public service, Governor Huntsman served as an executive for Huntsman Corporation, the Huntsman Cancer Foundation and Huntsman Family Holdings Company. Other organizations he has served include the Utah Opera, Envision Utah, the Coalition for Utah's Future, and KSL's Family Now Campaign. He speaks fluent Standard Mandarin Chinese.
Governor Huntsman has consistently received high poll ratings from both sides of the aisle and is considered by some polling experts as one of the most popular Governors in the United States of America.
Huntsman is one of two current governors serving on Western Governors University's board of trustees.
Contents |
[edit] Governor
[edit] Appointments
[edit] Cabinet
Current as of November 18, 2006
| OFFICE | NAME | TERM |
| Administrative Services, Executive Director | D'Arcy Dixon Pignanelli | 2005-2006 |
| Richard Ellis | 2006-present | |
| Agriculture, Commissioner | Leonard Blackham | 2005-present |
| Commerce, Executive Director | Francine Giani | 2005-present |
| Corrections, Executive Director | Scott Carver | 2005-present |
| Chief Information Officer | J. Stephen Fletcher | 2005-present |
| Environmental Quality, Executive Director | Dianne Nielson | 2005-present |
| Financial Institutions, Commissioner | Edward Leary | 2005-present |
| Health, Executive Director | Dr. David N. Sundwall | 2005-present |
| Human Resources, Executive Director | Jeff Herring | 2005-present |
| Human Services, Executive Director | Lisa-Michele Church | 2005-present |
| Insurance, Commissioner | Kent Michie | 2005-present |
| National Guard | General Brian Tarbet | 2005-present |
| Natural Resources, Executive Director | Michael Styler | 2005-present |
| Public Safety, Commissioner | Robert Flowers | 2005-2006 |
| Scott T. Duncan | 2006-present | |
| Transportation, Executive Director | John Njord | 2005-present |
| Division of Fine Arts, Director | Margaret Hunt | 2005-present |
| Community and Culture, Executive Director | Yvette D. Diaz | 2005-2006 |
| Palmer DePaulis | 2006-present | |
| Workforce Services, Executive Director | Tani Pack Downing | 2005-present |
[edit] Executive Boards and Commissions
[edit] External links
| Preceded by: Olene S. Walker | Governor of Utah 2005 – present | Incumbent |
| Governors of Utah <td style="vertical-align: middle; width: 1px" rowspan="2"> </td> |
|---|
| Wells • Cutler • Spry • Bamberger • Mabey • Dern • Blood • Maw • Lee • Clyde • Rampton • Matheson • Bangerter • Leavitt • Walker • Huntsman |
